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Ibn Taymiyyah's Battle against Innovators and
Deviant Sects:
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Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah dedicated a lot of effort towards
refuting various innovative sects. He even physically challenged some
individuals from the heretical Sufi sect, known as the Bataa'ihiyyah that
indulged in feats like walking over fire to amaze the common masses. He proposed
that he would walk on fire with them on the condition that they wash themselves
first with vinegar and hot water. Their refusal exposed their folly, and Ibn
Taymiyyah thus exposed the charlatans of the Bataa'ihiyyah sect. [See, Majmoo
al-Fatawa (11/456-457) and al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah (14/36)] He also refuted
Muhiyyuddin Ibn Arabi and the heresy of Wahdat al-Wajood.
Ibn Hajr said, '… From the astonishing qualities of this man (i.e. Ibn
Taymiyyah) was that he was the strongest amongst men against the people of
innovation, the Rawaafidah, the Hululiyyah, and the Ittihaadiyyah, and his works
on this are many and famous, and his fatawa on them cannot be counted… It is
obligatory upon the one, who has donned the robe of knowledge and possesses
intelligence that he consider the words of a man based upon his well-known books
or from the tongues of those who are trusted to accurately convey his words -
then to isolate from all of this what is rejected and warn from them with the
intention of giving sincere advice and to praise him for his excellent qualities
and for what he was correct in as is the way of the scholars.
If there were no virtues of Shaykh Taqi ad-Deen except for his famous student
Shaykh Shams ad-Deen ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, writer of many works, from
which both his opponents and supporters benefited from then this would be a
sufficient indication of his (ibn Taymiyyah's) great position. And how could it
be otherwise when the Shafa'ee Imams and others, not to speak of the Hanbalees,
of his time testified to his prominence in the (Islamic) sciences…' [From Ibn
Hajr's endorsement of 'Radd al-Waafir' contained at the end]
With regards refuting the people of innovation and the danger they pose to the
Muslims Ibn Taymiyyah said, 'When some people asked Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal that
they felt uneasy about criticizing people, he replied, 'If I were to remain
silent, how would the ignorant masses know the truth from falsehood?' Those who
introduce heretical writings which oppose the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and those
who innovate in matters of worship, then it is obligatory that they be exposed
and that the Muslims be warned against them - by unanimous agreement of the
Muslims scholars. In fact, when Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was asked about a person
who fasted, prayed and secluded himself in the mosque for worship; if he was
dearer to him than a person who spoke out against the innovators? He replied,
'When he fasts and prays and secludes himself, then he does so for the benefit
of his own self. However, when he speaks out against the innovators, he does so
for the benefit of the Muslims in general, and this is more virtuous.'
So it is clear that openly opposing the innovators is of general benefit to the
Muslims and is considered one of the types of struggles in the path of Allah.
Since purifying the religion of Allah and defending it from their attacks is a
collective obligation - as is agreed upon by the scholars. For, Allah did not
raise up some people to oppose the innovators, then the religion would suffer
harm, corruption and deviation. Indeed, this type of corruption is even greater
then the corruption resulting from the disbelievers conquering the Muslims.
Since when the disbelievers conquer the Muslims, they do not corrupt their
hearts, or their religion, except after some time. Whereas, the innovators
corrupt the hearts from the very beginning.' [Majmoo al-Fatawa (28/231-232)
Quoted from al-Istiqamah Magazine]
